Sealing cord and packing system comprising a plurality of such sealing cords

Abstract

A sealing cord ( 10 ) for sealing shafts ( 14 ) or other movable machine and equipment parts includes a core ( 24 ) having an elastically deformable hollow section ( 26 ), the hollow section ( 26 ) comprising at least one chamber ( 26 ), and a braiding ( 28 ) surrounding the core ( 24 ). The at least one chamber ( 26 ) is equipped with at least one connection ( 30 ) for the supply and/or discharge of pressurized fluid ( 32 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A sealing cord for sealing between opposed parts, comprising: 
 a core having an elastically deformable hollow section, the hollow section comprising at least one chamber;    at least one fluid connection to the at least one chamber for the supply and/or the discharge of pressurized fluid; and    a braiding surrounding the core.    
     
     
         2 . The sealing cord according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pressure chamber is formed by a limiting wall, and wherein said limiting wall, in a substantially orthogonal cross section, is convex toward the pressure chamber, at least in sections.  
     
     
         3 . The sealing cord according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of pressure chambers are distributed over the lengthwise cross section of the core.  
     
     
         4 . The sealing cord according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one chamber is a self-contained, endless annular chamber.  
     
     
         5 . The sealing cord according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing cord has a self-contained endless course, and a plurality of separate chambers is provided along said course.  
     
     
         6 . The sealing cord according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pressure chamber has a common connection for the supply and discharge of pressurized fluid.  
     
     
         7 . The sealing cord according to any of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pressure chamber has separate connections for the supply and discharge, respectively, of pressurized fluid.  
     
     
         8 . The sealing cord according to  claim 7 , wherein the pressurized fluid simultaneously serves as a cooling fluid.  
     
     
         9 . The sealing cord according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressurized fluid is nitrogen gas.  
     
     
         10 . The sealing cord according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastically deformable hollow section is made of at least one of silicon, EPDM, Viton, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polytetrafluoroethylene.  
     
     
         11 . A packing system for sealing between opposed parts comprising a plurality of sealing cords interposed between the opposed parts, wherein each of said sealing cords comprises: 
 a core having an elastically deformable hollow section having at least one chamber therein;    at least one fluid connection to said at least one chamber for the supply and/or the discharge of pressurized fluid; and    a braiding surrounding the core.    
     
     
         12 . The packing system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one pressure chamber is formed by a limiting wall, and wherein the limiting wall of the at least one pressure chamber, in a substantially orthogonal cross section, is convex toward the pressure chamber, at least in sections.  
     
     
         13 . The packing system of  claim 11 , wherein the sealing core of each cord comprises a plurality of pressure chambers distributed over the lengthwise cross section of said each core.  
     
     
         14 . The packing system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one chamber is a self-contained, endless annular chamber.  
     
     
         15 . The packing assembly of  claim 11 , wherein each sealing cord has a self-contained endless course, and a plurality of separate chambers is provided along said course.  
     
     
         16 . The packing assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one pressure chamber has a common connection for the supply and discharge of pressurized fluid.  
     
     
         17 . The packing assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one pressure chamber has separate connections for the supply and discharge, respectively, of pressurized fluid.  
     
     
         18 . The packing assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the pressurized fluid simultaneously serves as a cooling fluid.  
     
     
         19 . The packing system of  claim 11 , further comprising a pump for supplying the fluid under pressure to the at least one chamber of each sealing cord.  
     
     
         20 . The packing system of  claim 11 , further comprising control means for controlling the supply and/or discharge of pressurized fluid to each of said sealing cords.  
     
     
         21 . The packing system of  claim 20 , wherein said control means comprises a valve for individually controlling the fluid supply and/or discharge for each of said sealing cords.